Blade Runner (1982)

Second viewing, first viewing of the final cut; first viewed in 1982 or 1983.

Based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick, first published in 1968.

In the future, androids have achieved a high degree of sophistication. A group of them rebel and are hunted by a bounty hunter. The persecuted machines try to survive and also seek the man who engineered their lifespan to be a short one.

I never really understood people's (mostly Americans', it seems to me) obsession with intelligent machines. I mean, I do understand that children would be somewhat fascinated by their human appearance, but that grown men should dedicate so much of their energy and time to philosophize over this is beyond me. As Michael Moorcock puts it: "the bulk of American sf could be said to be written by robots, about robots, for robots" (Wizardry and Wild Romance). There are even "scientists" who specialize in the problems of so-called "hard" artificial intelligence. As I said, go figure. In any case, there are some interesting real life issues that are structurally analogous to the ones posed in this genre of fiction, and in Blade Runner specifically (for example, Jews-related issues). However, the film is flawed in more than one aspect, involving both script and direction. There are positive qualities too, but they are mostly in the character construction (including the actors' work). Viewed as a series of set-pieces offering an assortment of bizarre types, the film is passable.

Rating: 51 (down from 63)